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A new Special Feature in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B is drawing attention to a persistent imbalance in scientific publishing: much of the research appearing in international journals continues to come from a small group of countries, while excellent science from other parts of the world remains far less visible.
Titled 'The other 1%: Showcasing science and scientists from the Global South and indigenous communities', the collection brings together research from scientists and communities whose work is underrepresented in the journal.
The idea emerged from discussions within the journal's editorial board about the geographical concentration of submissions. In 2023, just 11 countries accounted for 77% of Proceedings B submissions, all from the Global North. Researchers from the Global South accounted for only 8% of submissions and 4% of accepted manuscripts.
The Special Feature was created to make some of the science behind the remaining share more visible and to bring greater recognition to researchers working in countries and regions that are less represented in international publishing.
The collection focuses particularly on biodiversity, ecology and conservation, fields where the geographical imbalance is especially significant. Much of the world's biodiversity is found in the Global South, yet a large proportion of the researchers studying it are based elsewhere. The featured papers therefore bring local researchers, Indigenous communities and other knowledge holders more directly into the research process.
This includes approaches that move beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries. Several contributions combine scientific research with Traditional Ecological Knowledge and local expertise, illustrating how collaboration with communities can produce different perspectives and potentially more effective approaches to conservation.
The collection also raises broader questions about who gets to participate in international science and whose research is considered visible. The guest editors point to barriers ranging from language and unequal resources to less visible conventions around how research is presented and “sold” to journals. These unwritten expectations can disadvantage researchers who have not had access to the same networks, training or institutional resources.
The Special Feature is not presented as a solution to these structural disparities. Rather, its editors see it as one contribution to changing the culture of scientific publishing. They encourage journals, researchers and institutions to look beyond established networks when selecting collaborators, reviewers and award nominees, and to ensure that scientists from underrepresented regions have a voice in editorial decision-making.
For the wider scientific community, the collection offers both a showcase of research and a reminder that where science is produced influences whose knowledge becomes visible.
The Special Feature is available in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, with further information on submitting research to the journal available from Royal Society Publishing.
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